92 MESSRS. MURIE AND MIVART ON THE 
our conjectures on the subject; for that a very appreciable gain to the individual can 
have resulted from the slightly lessened degree of required nourishment thence resulting 
(i.e. from that suppression) seems to us to be an almost absurd supposition. 
Of quite a contrary nature and stage of development is that wonderfully lengthened, 
attenuated, and probe-like middle digit of the Aye-Aye, in which Prof. Owen discerns a 
final purpose in its adaptability to the extraction of Wood-boring Grubs, Dr. Sand- 
with! having witnessed this action in a specimen kept by him for a short time in the 
Mauritius. But on this point Mr. Bartlett’s’ observations on the living animal in the 
Zoological Gardens lead him to a different conclusion. Whatever be the physiological 
import of this extraordinary digital structure, it certainly recalls to mind and much 
resembles the very elongated middle finger of some Bats. 
Turning now to the ‘Myology,’ we find structures which are presented by none of the 
higher Primates, while at the same time a remarkable uniformity runs through the 
whole of the family Lemuride. It is only in Nycticebus and Loris that we have found a 
marked divergence—though we expect that the African genera Arctocebus and Perodic- 
ticus will be found on examination to differ similarly from the other Lemuroids, and to 
resemble in the main their oriental allies the Slow and the Slender Loris. 
Besides general similarity to a human type in the disposition of the groups of muscles, 
we may observe that the following points equally obtain throughout the group :— 
1. There is a tendency to duplicity in the sterno-mastoid ; that is, the cleidal portion 
presents more or less of separation without actually being distinct from its fellow sternal 
portion. 2. There isno median tendon in the omohyoid, excepting, it may be, in Tarsius, 
where it is said by Burmeister to be double-bellied. 5. The longus colli is divisible into 
three portions, which, however, is best seen in Cheiromys, the Potto, and the Galagos. 
4. The deltoid is composed of three parts, less separable in the small than the larger 
specimens. 9. A teres minor exists, but is diminutive in size. 6. The triceps is four- 
headed. 7. Both a dorso-epitrochlear and anconeus are present; but the latter is said 
to be wanting in the Potto. 8. The coraco-brachialis is double-bellied. 9. There is no 
extensor primi internodii pollicis. 10. No pyramidalis is developed. 11. There is a 
rhomboideus capitis muscle; but no usual division into rhomboideus major and minor, 
a slight approach to this being only found in Tarsius and Allen’s Galago. 12. A levator 
claviculz is alone (doubtfully?) said to be absent (?) in Potto, all the others certainly have 
it. 13. The levator anguli scapuli is almost inseparable from the serratus magnus, and 
has attachment to all the cervical vertebre. 14. All possess a thin serratus posticus 
anterior, though it is assumed to be absent in the Potto. 15. The gluteus maximus is 
double, or has two separate planes of fibres. 16. Ascansorius does not exist. 17. The 
quadratus lumborum muscle arises by a series of tendons from the last dorsal and 
1 See his letter to Prof. Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. v. p. 37. 2 Pp. Z.8. 1862, p. 223. 
